It's About Time

This trip has been considered, talked about, mulled over and practice has even been conducted, although the practice part almost ended up with me soaked to the bone on a 40+ degree night when I almost flipped my kayak, but that's another story.

The Funky Fifty, also known as the Fifty Miles of Funk, is right around the corner. I find myself anxiously looking forward to the trip from Fort Worth to Dallas on the Trinity. I'm curious to know what the river might hold. I wonder how bad the river is going to stink when we paddle near the waste water discharges. I wonder what kind of characters we might run into or if we'll see anyone at all. I wonder if I've done enough planning and whether or not I've put as much thought into this trip as needed. I wonder if the 'toxic' waters of the urban Trinity will melt my flesh. I'm anxious.

I've backpacked, hiked, kayaked and kayak camped before and every time I make my list and check it twice. Every time, there has never been a serious issue. I'm hoping this will be one of those times. I'm hoping this anxiety is merely the anticipation of getting out on the river because it's been talked about for so long.

So, for now it's back to my lists and studying other's kayaking adventures on the Internet in hopes that I won't overlook anything.

The Funky 50?

Or whatever it is called. This week it is being called "about time".

Sometime last year, I thought of taking the Trinity River from Downtown Fort Worth to Downtown Dallas. I don't know why I thought if it, but I did, and I have though if it a lot since then.

This weekend it finally happens. Looks like a rain all weekend too. Perfect.

Fort Worth and Dallas are fairly close to each other, but the river does not know that. 50 miles of river winds between the cities, through suburbs, past junkyards, abandoned (and in use) sewage treatment plants, an abandoned safari-like zoo, and other "interesting" scenery.

We've set aside 3 days for the trip, this should be enough.  17 miles a day, even with all the portages.


Does that pollution dissolve plastic boats?

Counting Check Dams

This week is the task of marking check dams on the GPSRs. There are a lot of them, and they will not be fun. Portage, portage, portage.......




There are several reasons nobody makes this trip. This may very well be one of them.